GTV 2.0 Twinspark as a commuter - money pit?
Discussion
Hi all, long story short - I've had to car swap with my wife so she's now got my Saab and I've got her 1.8 Focus... now, suitable though the Focus is for doing a 70 mile-a-day commute, it's a bit... ordinary, it has minimal road presence (esp. after coming from the Saab where lane-hoggers tended to just pull back in out of my way), and it's in a girly colour!
Anyway, I've always been a fan of the GTV (I test drove the V6 ages ago - impressions were that the power overwhelmed the front end and I can't justify the fuel consumption, hence considering the TS), but not sure if doing 15k p.a. is just asking for trouble.
Points to take into consideration:
- budget is about 5k
- nearest specialist is 60miles/2 hours away
- handling is important, but it needs to go when required
- will be kept on road
Anyone with helpful advice?
Thanks, CH
Anyway, I've always been a fan of the GTV (I test drove the V6 ages ago - impressions were that the power overwhelmed the front end and I can't justify the fuel consumption, hence considering the TS), but not sure if doing 15k p.a. is just asking for trouble.
Points to take into consideration:
- budget is about 5k
- nearest specialist is 60miles/2 hours away
- handling is important, but it needs to go when required
- will be kept on road
Anyone with helpful advice?
Thanks, CH
If you get a good, well looked-after one (which you should be able to for £5k) then it should be okay.
Maintenance costs will be on the steep side; you're looking at a service every 10 months or so and a cambelt every other year. With that sort of mileage you'll need to keep a really close eye on the oil level (weekly at the very least). Would be worth finding one that has poly bushes already or else getting them fitted as soon as you can after purchase.
Maintenance costs will be on the steep side; you're looking at a service every 10 months or so and a cambelt every other year. With that sort of mileage you'll need to keep a really close eye on the oil level (weekly at the very least). Would be worth finding one that has poly bushes already or else getting them fitted as soon as you can after purchase.
euroboy said:
Its not gumpf though is it - you have several people with direct experience telling you so.
My Spider was well maintained and driven and it still cost me the earth as it just wasn't up to doing those miles per year.
In fairness, I think yours is close to a worst-case scenario, plus I remember reading that your 7K included a spare set of wheels and tyres, paint correction, new headlights and speedo (which I think was for a euro conversion? maybe not). The new CODE box and ECU would bump the cost up, but I'm not certain they're mileage-related.My Spider was well maintained and driven and it still cost me the earth as it just wasn't up to doing those miles per year.
I take my hat off to you for putting the money into it, I'm just not certain that yours is a fair representation.
For what it's worth, my '98 V6 GTV has cost me less than half of that over the three years I've owned it, and I haven't skimped on anything.
In response to the OP, regular servicing is what will keep a car like this running well - with the mileage you're doing and the fact that a specialist is 2 hours away, it might become a bit of a pest.
Thanks for all the comments, I don't have a problem with keeping it properly maintained, but I think that you're right - the fact that the specialist is a bit of a distance might become an issue... unfortuntely, the only local specialist place is a VW/Seat - so is this the wrong place to ask for advice about what I should get from the VAG stable? 
CH
CH
My '01 V6 has cost £4.5 total in servicing and repairs over 7 years. That's everything bar petrol, tax and insurance.
Admittedly, only the 1st 3 years were at 12k+ miles pa and it's had a much easier life since then but I think it shows that they *can* be relatively cheap to run if looked after.
Admittedly, only the 1st 3 years were at 12k+ miles pa and it's had a much easier life since then but I think it shows that they *can* be relatively cheap to run if looked after.
euroboy said:
JB, quite correct it included some things which werent needed - but at the same time I havent included petrol/insurance in those figures so in the end those misc. costs probably even themselves out.
The most expensive outgoings were:
Cambelt/variaotr change.
Exhaust replacing
Brakes
Poly-bushing
ECU and immobiliser change.
Thats several K worth of work just there, in simple mileage and age related stuff.
It's not really fair to add in un-needed work or insurance and petrol in a response to "GTV...money pit" is it? You'd need to pay for insurance and petrol in any car.The most expensive outgoings were:
Cambelt/variaotr change.
Exhaust replacing
Brakes
Poly-bushing
ECU and immobiliser change.
Thats several K worth of work just there, in simple mileage and age related stuff.
You mentioned £7K as the figure; in your list above cambelt / variator is £300 - £400, Exhaust £300 for stainless cat back, brakes £40 for pair of pads, £100 for pair of discs. I've never had to have polybushing or ECU / immobiliser change, but those other items aren't hideously expensive, and should be considered service items, surely? I owned my Alfa for 117K miles and it was totally reliable and cheap to run, it's still going at 137K.....
euroboy said:
Im not out for an argument on the subject - I love my Alfas as much as anyone who posts in this part of the site, but at the same time im not blind to their many defects.
None of us are looking for an argument, I don't think. 
There are loads of GTV owners on here, and we all know how much it costs to keep these cars running.
No-one is suggesting you can run one on fresh air alone, just that £7k in 18 months is not even close to typical.
Edited by jamieboy on Friday 7th March 09:49
Had a 2l spider for 2 years with no worries at all, basic normal servicing. Passed it onto my mother who always admired it and she still has it now some 6 years on. Still no apparent major problems (she would have been on the phone) just keep on top of normal cambelt changes,oil, consumables etc. We also now have a 156 twinspark, bought at 40k and now upto 75k with the only thing outside routine servicing having been a change of the thermostat.... and it's a selespeed to boot 
I'm not blinkered enough to think there aren't some lemons out there, any more than people should be blinkered to think that because they may have had a lemon that they are all like that. Buy well and they can do everyday as well as any car, they ARE a mainstream car NOT a weekend special.
I'm not blinkered enough to think there aren't some lemons out there, any more than people should be blinkered to think that because they may have had a lemon that they are all like that. Buy well and they can do everyday as well as any car, they ARE a mainstream car NOT a weekend special.
euroboy said:
Im not out for an argument on the subject - I love my Alfas as much as anyone who posts in this part of the site, but at the same time im not blind to their many defects.
As a brief rundown:
Variator and cam belt change - £500
Clutch slave cylinder - £80
New centre and rear section exhaust - £250
New Air Flow Meters - 2 x £80
Polybushing rear suspension - £450
New ECU and immobiliser - £600
Reseting air bag lights (many times) - about £100 all in
Couple of regular services - @ £100 a time
New set of tyres - 4 x £90
Not after an arguement either; but I do think you were unlucky with a bit of a lemon. Getting a car which needs cambelt, bushes, exhaust within 15K miles suggests it wasn't in particularly good condition when you bought it As a brief rundown:
Variator and cam belt change - £500
Clutch slave cylinder - £80
New centre and rear section exhaust - £250
New Air Flow Meters - 2 x £80
Polybushing rear suspension - £450
New ECU and immobiliser - £600
Reseting air bag lights (many times) - about £100 all in
Couple of regular services - @ £100 a time
New set of tyres - 4 x £90
Edited by euroboy on Thursday 6th March 21:01
I know AFMs can be temperamental, but 2 in 15K miles sounds over the top; I was still on my original at 117K miles.)70 miles a day on mixed roads - dual carriageway, a and b roads, 10 miles urban and I get 30 mpg without being lightfooted.
Needed new tyres and a thermostat to date.
Buy the right one with the right history, change the oil and keep it topped up, service it at the RIGHT time and you won't have any snags.
Needed new tyres and a thermostat to date.
Buy the right one with the right history, change the oil and keep it topped up, service it at the RIGHT time and you won't have any snags.
My wife ran a 2.0TS Spider (P reg 96) from 1998 to 2002 as her daily driver approx 10K miles a year. Managed the original 72K mileage on the belts, never had to do the rear bushes, only problems were fuel leak (£100 for new pipe plus fitting) clock spring, loose relay stopping roof release, battery and at least two wheels on pot holes. Gave about 30 mpg and even with main dealer servicing was not too bad on running costs.
I know this is an oldish thread but thought I'd add my experiences of my 96 TS Spider, which has been pushing its luck with me lately...
Bought the car Jan last year, 77k odd miles, had been well maintained by the previous owner, fsh etc. First year went smoothly apart from a couple of punctures, just bad luck. Then the MoT and service came round in Jan this year, needed new front discs and pads, couple of bushes, a brake hose, with the service it came to £700 odd. Ok fair enough I thought...
Week later I couldn't get 4th gear, so after weighing up getting another gearbox from a scrappy or a rebuild, I went for a rebuild as I think that way you know it'll all be sorted and guarenteed. So they stripped it down and found one of the bearings had shattered. They replaced all of them and put in a new clutch, cost £800. It is now supurb, the gearbox has a lovely feel and (obviously) feels like new.
I had the cambelt and pulleys etc changed last week for £250 as it was done by the previous owner at 50k and its now at 85.5k. On the way to the garage I noticed the backbox has fallen off(it one thing after another!), somewhere on the way to the coast or back from Surrey last weekend. Strangly didnt notice any difference in noise levels? Anyway at the garage they also noticed the front pipes are blowing badly also!
So i'm now deciding between replacing for standard or going stainless steel. I will replace everything from the manifold back either way as the way things have been going the cat and centre section probably havent got long to go! I have been looking at Alfaholics system with sports cats which looks SO good but is dear at £1150ish but as I think I will be keeping this car for a long time it is just about justifiable in my head! I had a 156 v6 for 9 months a couple of years ago and still regret selling it, you get a love hate relationship with an Alfa. They can be moneypits but they can also make put such a smile on your face when you put your foot down!
Mine has cost me a fortune over last few months and still, to make it mint, I want to put on a new roof, get the leather tidyed up, the airbag warning light is on, theres some rust bubbling up round the door mirror, some of the plastics in the interior are so cheap and get are scratched so I want to get them painted to match the silver body, the list goes on ... oh yes also theres an oil leak just statrted too!
It is an infuriating car to own but I still love it and I will keep spending money on it because it looks like a little gem and is such fun to drive with its rorty revvy engine I know I'd regret selling it!
To sum up, I think I have been unlucky of late and that these things can happen to any car at any time but I think these cars are a bit fragile and delicate and really to need alot of TLC. Buyey beware!
Bought the car Jan last year, 77k odd miles, had been well maintained by the previous owner, fsh etc. First year went smoothly apart from a couple of punctures, just bad luck. Then the MoT and service came round in Jan this year, needed new front discs and pads, couple of bushes, a brake hose, with the service it came to £700 odd. Ok fair enough I thought...
Week later I couldn't get 4th gear, so after weighing up getting another gearbox from a scrappy or a rebuild, I went for a rebuild as I think that way you know it'll all be sorted and guarenteed. So they stripped it down and found one of the bearings had shattered. They replaced all of them and put in a new clutch, cost £800. It is now supurb, the gearbox has a lovely feel and (obviously) feels like new.
I had the cambelt and pulleys etc changed last week for £250 as it was done by the previous owner at 50k and its now at 85.5k. On the way to the garage I noticed the backbox has fallen off(it one thing after another!), somewhere on the way to the coast or back from Surrey last weekend. Strangly didnt notice any difference in noise levels? Anyway at the garage they also noticed the front pipes are blowing badly also!
So i'm now deciding between replacing for standard or going stainless steel. I will replace everything from the manifold back either way as the way things have been going the cat and centre section probably havent got long to go! I have been looking at Alfaholics system with sports cats which looks SO good but is dear at £1150ish but as I think I will be keeping this car for a long time it is just about justifiable in my head! I had a 156 v6 for 9 months a couple of years ago and still regret selling it, you get a love hate relationship with an Alfa. They can be moneypits but they can also make put such a smile on your face when you put your foot down!
Mine has cost me a fortune over last few months and still, to make it mint, I want to put on a new roof, get the leather tidyed up, the airbag warning light is on, theres some rust bubbling up round the door mirror, some of the plastics in the interior are so cheap and get are scratched so I want to get them painted to match the silver body, the list goes on ... oh yes also theres an oil leak just statrted too!
It is an infuriating car to own but I still love it and I will keep spending money on it because it looks like a little gem and is such fun to drive with its rorty revvy engine I know I'd regret selling it!
To sum up, I think I have been unlucky of late and that these things can happen to any car at any time but I think these cars are a bit fragile and delicate and really to need alot of TLC. Buyey beware!
Had I seen this thread I wouldn't have bought my (97) Spider three years ago. Fortunately I didn't. In three years & 28,000 miles I've had - timing belt change & centre section exhaust replaced. And, apart from normal servicing & consumables, that's been it (touch wood). OTOH a friend also bought a Spider about the same time - similar vintage - and has had nothing but problems with it. There does seem to be a lottery element with these cars.
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